Samoo's martial arts centre blends symbolic elements of human, heaven and earth
Taekwondo-Won, Muju, South Korea
The Taekwondo-Won has been established as a global hub for the education, training, and promotion of Taekwondo, a Korean martial art that combines combat techniques with sports. With over 45 million practitioners all around the world, there was a marked need for a central hub at the originating country. The complex is scheduled for an official opening in April 2014.
Led by the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation with government support, a design-build competition was initiated which was won by Samoo Architects & Engineers. Inspired by the hierarchy of Taekwondo’s training from white-belt to black-belt, the linear site was divided into three zones: Body, Mind and Spirit.
The Body Zone would be home to the Taekwondo Arena which is the main facility of the Taekwondo-Won. The Arena was designed with the motif of Taeguk, a well-known geometry that symbolises Korea and forms the centre of the Korean flag.
Three masses symbolising human, heaven, and earth intertwine at the arena forming the Taeguk geometry which is easily recognisable from above. The arena is designed to hold up to 5,000 people with a clear line of sight that guarantees maximum visibility of the Taekwondo matches.
With flexible arrangements, the arena can host 6 matches simultaneously with separate circulation routes for participants, audience, media, and staff.
Curtain wall facades with large openings provide magnificent views of the surrounding nature which is also reflected by the mirror pond. With accommodation facilities at the Mind Zone and Taekwondo grand-master’s facilities at the Spirit Zone, Taekwondo-Won provides a variety of facilities & programs that will cater to visitors from all around the world.
